God Forbid

New Jersey's God Forbid have finally returned with a follow-up to their Century Media debut, the excellent Determination. And Gone Forever does not disappoint, showing as it does the band expanding forth into the innovative territory they forged on that album. Most noticeable is a bit more action in the keyboard department, but don't worry, it's not as wimpy as Dimmu Borgir or anything, this is still heavy, solid metal. Vocalist Byron Davis is only getting better, with his melodic vocals becoming smoother and his screaming getting stronger over time. The rest of the band have honed their chops to a fine tune most other metal acts can only dream of; it's still heavy as can be, but with hooks aplenty. Like Shadows Fall and All That Remains, God Forbid are forging ahead in the realm of underground American metal; combining hardcore vocals and vibes, thrash riffs and a smart sense of melody, these bands are all worthy of a head bang or two.